Multicouch roll papermaking machine



1945- E. E. BERRY ETAL MULTICOUCH ROLL PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Til Em :FE 14194 [1 552 6? 4405 0 flaezvaasrcz.

Feb. 20, 1945. BERRY ETAL 2,369,653

' MULTICOUCH ROLL PAPER MAKING MACHINE Filed June 8, 1942 2 SheetsSheet 2 Patented Feb. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE MULTIGOUCH non. mrnamxmc moms Earl E. Berry and Lloyd Hornbostel, Belolt, Wis., assignors to Beloit Iron Works, Beloit, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 8, 1942, Serial No. 446,180

2 Claims. (Cl. 92-44) This invention relates to paper making machines having primary suction couch rolls acting on the web of paper being formed in advanced the usual couch roll of the machine. More specifically the invention relates to the I provision of one or more auxiliary suction rolls within the loop of a papermachine forming wire to eliminate wear on the wire such as occurred with the use of theheretofore necessary stationary suction boxes and to decrease or eliminaterewetting of the paper web with liquids that have been removed from the web.

In the conventional endless band or Fourdrin-.

ier type paper making machine, water is removed from stock on the upper run of the band or wire by passing the wire over a series of stationary suction boxes. As the stock becomes more dehydrated due to drainage of water therefrom, there is less water available to lubricate the wire as it passes over the stationary suction boxes. As a result, those suctionboxes which are positioned adjacent the couch roll end of the wire act through the wire on a drier web of stock than those boxes which are positioned closer to the breast roll and of the wire. In

order .to be efiective the suction'boxes adjacent the couch r011 end of the wire must carry a relatively high vacuum to draw additional water out of the partially dehydrated web of stock and they thereby-tightly pull the wire against their stationary covers.

Since only small amounts of water are available at these points to lubricate the wire, a great frictional drag is created on the wire. This drag not only necessitates greater power input to drive the wire, but also wears away the wire and materially shortens its useful life. It has, accordingly, been heretofore necessary to frequently change forming wires on Fourdrinier type paper making machines.

In accordance with the present invention, however, the frictional drag imparted to the wire by suction boxes adjacent the couch roll end of the wire is decreased and the useful wire life is materially increased. At the same time this invention makes possible increased dehydration of the stock on the wire beforeit reaches the couch roll end of the wire. Since the frictional drag on the wire is reduced the invention further decreases the necessary power input for driving -the wire.

roll of such, a machine to replace the heretofore necessary stationary suction boxes at this point. The primary suction couch roll or rolls can be operated at high vacuum to draw even more water'out of the web of paper stock on the wire than the stationary suction boxes heretofore used and, at the same time, have no frictional dragging effect on the wire.

The primary suction couch roll or rolls are mounted under the upper run of the Fourdrinier wire in advance of the main suction couch roll to supply the main suction couch roll with a web of stock that is at'least as dry as the web supplied to such a roll from the heretofore used stationary suction boxes. The primary suction couch rolls are arranged within the loop of the Fourdrinier wire in a manner so that the wire and web thereon is removed from the rotating shell of the primary couch roll before vacuum is completely broken in the holes of the shell. A save-all tank or trough is preferably mounted around the shells of the primary suction couch rolls to receive water discharged by centrifugal force out of the holes of the shell to thereby prevent a rewetting of the web of paper.

.As water is drawn from a web by the stationary gland or suction box in the rotating shell of a suction roll, some of this water will remain in the holes of the shell and will, unless precautions are taken, be thrown back into the web as the web'leaves the suction area of the roll. However,- this rewetting of the web is eliminated by arranging the primary suction couch of this invention with respect to the Fourdrinier wire so that water discharging from the holes of the rotating shell cannot recontact the web.

It is, then, an object of the present invention to provide a primary suction couch roll in ad- 1 vance of the usual couch roll on an endless band a Fourdrinier type paper making machine with a plurality of suction couch rolls.

A still further object of the invention is to replace the conventional stationary suction boxes at the couch roll end of a Fourdrinier wire with one or more rotating suction rolls. Another object of the invention decrease the necessary power input to a .paper making machine.

A still further. object of theinventionis to decrease or eliminate the rewetting of paper stock on the forming wire of a paper making machine.

. is to increase I the usual life of paper machine forming wires. A still further object of the invention is to A specific object of the invention is to provide one or more primary suction couch rolls in the loop of a Fourdrinier forming wire to act on stock deposited on the wire for dehydrating the stock and to so arrange each primary couch roll that it will not eifect a rewetting of the paper stock.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of a preferred examples, illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings: Figure 1- is a side elevational diagrammatic view of the forming end of a Fourdrinier type paper making machine equipped with a primary suction couch roll in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view, in somewhat diagrammatic form, illustrating the primary suction couch roll surrounded by a save-all trough or tank.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken through the forming wire, primary suction couch roll and save-all tank of this invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the main courch roll endpof the paper machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating the forming end-of a Fourdrinier type paper making machine equipped with two primary suction couch rolls in accordance with this invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the two primary suction couch rolls of Figure 5 in vertical cross section.

As sliown on the drawings: I

In Figure 1 the reference numeral I designates generally an endless band or Fourdrinier type paper making machine including a looped forming wire II trained between a breast roll I2 and a suction couch roll I3. Stationary suction boxes it are mounted within the loop of the wire I I under the upper run of the wire. In accordance with this invention, a primary suction couch roll assemblydesignated generally by the reference numeral I is mounted in the loop of the wire after the last suction box H and in advance of the suction couch roll I3. The wire thus has a substantially horizontal upper run between the breast roll I2 and the primary suction couch roll assembly I5. The wire then slopes downwardly to the main couch roll I3 and is trained around this couch roll and thence'upwardly over a wire roll I6 and under another wire roll I! back to the under side of the breast roll I2. The roll I 6 can be a tensioning roll to maintain the loop in a taut condition,

A head box It supplies paper stock'to the stock inlet or nozzle l9 which discharges onto the upper run of the forming wire at the breast roll end thereof. A paper web is formed on the wire II from the stock discharged thereon out of the inlet I9. Water and otherliquids from the stock are drained by gravity through the open mesh wire II and this gravity drainage is assisted by suction effect from the boxes H so that, by the time the stock has advanced to the primary suction couch roll assembly IE, it is formed into a loosely matted web W as shown in Figure ,3.

As shown in Figures 1'to 3 couch assembly I5 includes a rotatably mounted p rforated cylindrical shell rotating r un the primary suctionasaaoss a. stationary suction gland 2I connected to a source of suction through a trunnion or pipe arrangement such as 22 (Fig. 2). The suction gland 21 has oncoming and oifgoing seals 2Ia acting on the shell 20 to define a localized suction area 23 (Fig. 3) on the rotating shell 20. This area 23 is preferably entirely covered by the wire II and web W so that any air entering the gland 2| must be drawn through the web to effect extraction of water from the web. However, to prevent rewetting of the web with liquid drawn into the holes of the shell, the wire is removed from the shell before the vacuum in the holes is completely broken to release the water from the holes. As the holes pass beyond the oifgoing seal 2Ia the vacuum therein is broken and the water therein can be discharged outwardly thereof by centrifugal force. According to this invention the wire is removed from the shell at the ofigoing seal so that the centrifugally discharged water from the holes cannot reenter the web W.

As shown in Figure 1, a rubber-covered top couch roll 24 can cooperatewith the primary suction couch roll at the suction area thereof. This rubber-covered roll 24 engages the web W on the wire II and may act as a lump breaker roll to break up any lumps of stock in the web W. A similar rubber-covered roll 25 can cooperate with the main suction couch I 3.

A save-all trough or tank 26 surrounds the shell 20 of the primary suction couch roll. This tank or trough includes a vertical front end wall 21 facing the breast roll and of the machine and having a. horizontal flange or lip 21a in closely spaced relation under the upper run of the forming wire I I. rounds the oifgoing side of the shell 20 and has an outturned flange or lip 28a in closely spaced relation from the wire II along the downward sloping path of the wire. Front and rear side walls 29 terminate below the tops of the front and rear end walls ,21 and 28. These walls 29 may have cut-out sections 29a so as not to obstruct the suction pipe 22 or the axle support for the roll. The side walls 29 however extend above the bottom of the shell 20. A bottom wall 30 connects the front and rear end walls 21 and 28 as well as the front and rear side walls 29. This bottom wall 30 can have a collared aperture 36a receiving a drain pipe 3|.

As best shown in Figure 3, any water drawn I This water will be discharged from the holes by centrifugal action in streams 32 tangential to the direction of rotation of the shell. However, since the wire I I is removed from the shell 20 just before it passes beyond the offgoing edge of the oflgoing seal 2 Ia, the tangential streams of water 32 from the holes in the shell will not be thrown back through the wire so as' to rewetthe web W but, on theother hand, they will be projected against the wall 28 of the tank. The water will then drain into the bottom of the tank and out of the drain outlet 3|. In this manner the web W will not be rewet by water extracted therefrom. The path of the wire. I I is arranged over the suction area 23 so that the wire and web will be removed from the shell 20 before tangential discharge of water from the shell takes place.

The trough 26 is so arranged that it will inter- An arcuate rear end wall 28 surfrom both assemblies shell 20 is released.

the main suction ll after passage over the suction area 34 and is directed under a paper roll 35. y

In Figure 5, parts identical withparts described in Figure 1 have been marked with the same reference numerals. However, in Figure 5 the paper'machine |a has, in addition to the primary suction couch roll assembly l5, a second primary couch roll assembly 40 within the loop of the wire ll between the assembly l and the main couch l3. This primary couch assembly 40 includes a rotating perforated shell 4| a stationary suction gland 42 within the shell 4|, seals 42a on the gland acting against the interior of the shell 4| to define a localized suction area 43' on the shell 4|, and a rubber covered lump breaker roll 44 disposed above the suction area 43 and acting on the paper web W. x s

A single trough 45 can be used to receive water l5 and 40. This trough 45 46 extending beneath both 46a and 4612 on the has a sloping bottom shells 2 and 4|. Collars bottom 36 receive drain pipes 41 and 48 respectively to drain water out of the trough.

The front end of the bottom 46 has an upturned vertical front'end wall 49 with a horizontal flange 49a at the upper end thereof underlying the wire ii in closely spaced relation therewith.

The lower end of the bottom 46 has a rear end wall 59 in closely spaced relation from the shell 4| and having an outturned flange 50a underlying the wire I A partition wall 5| extends from the bottom 48 intermediate the front and rear walls 49 and 50 of the trough in closely spaced relation around the shell- 20 and has a flange 5|a underlying the wire II in closely spaced relation.

also make possible greater dehydration of a paper Front and rear side walls 52 cover the ends of the shells and have cut-out portions 52a and 52b for the shells 20 and 4|..

Y The trough thus has a compartment A surrounding the shell 2i'i and drained by the drain line 41, and a. compartment B surrounding the shell 4| and drained by the drain line 48,

As best shown in Figure 6, the shell 4| is arranged so that it will guide the wire off of the roll 20 before the vacuum in the holes of the The baiile wall 5| will interceptthe streams of water 32 discharged from the holes in the shell 20 when the vacuum is released from these holes. This water will impingevagainst the bafiie 5| andb'e drained out of the compartment A of the trough. As also shown in Figure 6, and as indicated in Figure 5,

, the wire II is directed over the suction area 43 of the roll assembly 4|! and the couch roll l3 will remove this wire from the shell 4| before the vacuum in. the holes of the shell is completely broken. Streams of water 53 discharged from the holes in theshell 4| after the vacuum in the holes is broken will impinge against the wall of the trough to drain out of the compartment B of the trough through the drain line 48.

Figures 5 and 6 therefore illustrate an embodiment of the invention utilizing a plurality of primary suction couch rolls in: advance of the main couch roll It. It should also be understood that three or'more primary couch 'roll assemblies could be used if desired.

gland in said cylinder having spaced opposed on! The primary suction couch'roll'assembiy It, or l5 and 40, will therefore extract at least as much water from the web- W as was extracted by the heretofore used suction boxes which were positioned at the couch roll end of the wire. However, the primary suction couch roll assemblies will not exert a frictional drag on the wire such as was heretofore encountered with the use of stationary suction boxes. As a result of this, the wire life is materially increased and power input necessary to drive the wire is materially decreased. By the use of the primary suction couch roll assemblies of this invention, wire life has been greatly increased.

The primary suction couches of this invention web on its forming wire than was heretofore possible with the heretofore known stationary suction boxes and suction couch roll arrangements.

It will, of course, be understood that various I details of the invention may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a Fourdrinier paper making machine comprising a breast roll, a first primary suction couch roll in spaced lateral relation from said breast roll, a second primary suction couch roll in spaced relation tion couch roll at a level below said first roll, a main couch roll spaced from said second primary couch roll at a lower level than said second roll,- a looped forming wire trained around all of said rolls and having an upper run extend- .ing substantially horizontally from said breast roll mary couch roll and around said main couch roll,

each of said couch rolls having a perforated cylinder receiving the wire thereover and a suction coming and off-going seals defining a suction area therebetween, said second primary suction couch 'roll directing the wire ofi of said first, primary suction couch roll at the off-going seal of said first roll before vacuum in the holes of the cylinder of the first roll has been released, said main couch roll directing" the wire of! of said second couch roll at the off-going seal thereof before the vacuum in the holes of the cylinder 55 of said second couch roll is released, and a saveall trough'surrounding said first and second primary suction couch therein between said rolls extending into closely spaced relation from upper run of said wire to intercept water-discharge from said first roll before it contacts said second roll, and said trough being eflective for intercepting water from said second roll before it contacts the main couch roll.

2. In a Fourdrlnier paper making machine including a breast roll, a main suction couchroll, and a forming wiretrained around said rolls, the improvements of a first primary suction couch roll within the loop of said wire between the breast roll and the main couch roll at substan-' the breast roll and above necessitated by the scope of they from said first primary sucrolls and having'a baflle wall a the sloping portion of the couch rolls having a perforate cylinder receiving the wire thereover and a suction gland in said cylinder having spaced opposed oil-going and on-coming seals defining a, suction area therebetween, said second primary roll directing the wire 01f 01' said first primary roll at the of!- going seal of said first r011 before vacuum in the holes of the cylinder of the first roll has been released; said main couch roll directing the wire of! or said second primary roll at the cit-going seal of said second roll before vacuum in the holes or the cylinder 01 the second roll has been released, and trough means in the loop of the wire partially surrounding the first and second primary rolls to collect liquids released from'the rolls before the liquids can recontact the wire.

- EARL E. BERRY.

LLOYD HORNBOS'I'EL. 

